Stories and photos from the field

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Over 4,500 scientific papers have been published on research conducted at La Selva Biological Station, yet it is rare that information from the academic literature makes it out to the general public. Here, MSEM students summarize findings from some of the most interesting recent articles.

Greetings friends, This is my first foreign correspondence while I am doing research on bats in Costa Rica. I will be following up at the end of my trip to sum up what I have learned from this experience. Currently, I am conducting acoustic surveys across Costa Rica using two Wildlife Acoustics SM4BAT full-spectrum passive… Continue reading →

According to Darwinian theories, nature is locked in a vicious cycle for the survival of the fittest. This cycle involves the evolution of behaviors and adaptations that allow a species to survive and reproduce over time. A process known as natural selection. However, by strictly following these theories, one would not be able to address… Continue reading →

Date: July 16, 2013 Source: PeerJ, La Selva Biological Research Station Researchers in Costa Rica and Puerto Rico are embracing new digital recording technologies to accurately identify animal, bird, and insect species living in the forest. They have developed an Automated Remote Biodiversity Monitoring Network (ARBIMON) that records information 24 hours a day and determines… Continue reading →

The Night. It is disappearing before our eyes. As the human population grows, so does the light pollution produced by our infrastructure; this concentration of lights produced by cities can be seen from space. Dr. Lewanzik at La Selva Biological Field Station in Costa Rica researches the impact of increased light intensity on bats. A… Continue reading →

“Global temperature increases over the next century are predicted to contribute to the extinction of a number of taxa, including up to 40 % of all lizard species.” Frightening way to start a scientific paper, but even more so when you realize the drastic implications that this study brings about. By using a cross examination… Continue reading →

Recent study at La Selva Biological Station reveals that even tadpoles of Oophaga pumilio have poison. In a recent study, Styonski and colleagues surveyed tadpoles, juvenile and adults of the strawberry poison dart frog to try to determine in which life stages the frogs gain their poisonous alkaloids that so efficiently repel predators. This… Continue reading →

A recent study in Costa Rica revealed some evolutionary secrets of one of nature’s most adorable birds–the hummingbird. Scientists at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica wanted to understand feeding habits of the tiny birds and how the relationship between hummingbirds and their favorite flower foods may have developed. Biologists looked at characteristics of… Continue reading →

Paraponera clavata, commonly known as “bala” or “bullet ant” in English, is a species of ant that is commonly found throughout Costa Rica. The bullet ant has been found to be distributed throughout Central and South America, generally in tropical forest zones. This species is the only member of the genus Paraponera, and it’s closest… Continue reading →

About this blog

Graduate students at St. Edward's University in the Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Management and Sustainability (MSEM) program gain valuable hands-on field experience through coursework, research, and internships.

During the first year of the program, students learn environmental research and project management skills from researchers and practitioners in and around Austin and write proposals for research to be conducted over the following year.

Over the summer, students travel to Costa Rica for four weeks to participate in an in-depth exploration of sustainable development strategies that integrate environmental conservation and economic development.

As the culminating experience, students complete an internship where they apply the skills gained in the academic program to managing a project for a public or private sector organization. Projects take place around the world and cover a range of different topics.

Find out more about MSEM students' field experiences in Travis County, Costa Rica, or for their Internships by clicking on the tabs above!